15.6-inch notebook screens are in short supply

DigiTimes heard laptops screens sized 15.6" continue to be in short supply because panel makers are focusing more on small to medium sized panel production. The trend will likely push up the pricing of 15.6" notebooks in the second half of this year as the panels become harder to come by.

Notebook vendors are looking to release new units in 2014 but face difficulties in gaining access to 15.6-inch panels due to limited supply as a result of production shifts by panel makers.

Panel makers said the main reason why they have switched to mostly tablet and smartphone panels is because profits are better than those from 15.6-inch panels.

As panel makers plan to continue focusing on the small- to medium-size panel segment, notebook vendors are worried whether they will have enough supply to meet demand throughout the rest of 2014.